My brother was watching something about the Superbowl's best moments and they were talking about the Colts and the Patriots rivalry. For two straight years they faced off in the playoffs the Colts lost both times. The next year both teams lost in the second round but the year after they faced off in the third round and the Colts won.They ended up winning the Superbowl.

Haven't the Dodgers lost two years in a row to the Philadelphia before? What happened the year after? Didn't they win the WS or at least advance into the WS?

OK Nic, let's be positive (somewhat).Werth is 30Victorino is 29Rollins will be 31Howard is 30.Lee is 31.Lidge will be 33Compared to Broxton is 25Kershaw is 21Bills is 25Kemp is 25Martin is 26Loney is 25

They've got some years and experience on our core. Does it explain the disappointing performance in the LCS two years in row? Not entirely, but it's a place to start.

Add a couple of reliable pitchers to lead the way next year instead of relying on a 25 y-o to be the "Ace," and see how this team improves. In other words, John Lackey will look good in Blue.

I'm also not going to hide my hope that Manny exercises his option and we find another big bat for the outfield. *coughMatt Hollidaycough*

Erin, I understand your potential distaste for them due to their former employers, but have not the Dodgers embraced former tormentors once clad in Blue?Think O-Dog with the D-backs. The guy killed us. He crosses over to the side of truth and light, and, voila! He is a hero.Holliday's bat in the line-up would only make Ethier and Kemp that much more dangerous to opposing pitching.

Word is Manny is thinking of exercising the option due to his paltry projected salary next year ($7.7M as opposed to JP making $10M. . .according to DT by way of TBLA).

DB I got that email too. The MLB emails have been annoying me all year, but superstitious me refused to unsubscribe from them fearing it would somehow affect baseball karma. But unsubscribing from this morning's phillies gear email was quite pleasurable. I even opened the ad from my trash folder and unsubscribed a second time just to be sure.

You would think they could tell that I watched, via MLB.tv, well over 100 Dodger games and would know better than to market to me the ugly schwag of their opponents. Maybe they think I hate the Dodgers and watch hoping they will lose. But I may be doing that for the Phillies next year....

I hope that the Dodgers get John Lackey. They clearly need a top-flight starting picther. It would be great if Halladay went back on the market. I don't know what the asking price would be, but it has got to be lower than what it was at the deadline.

Unfortunately, Manny is sticking around. I wish we could get another outfielder because I don't think he fits well with the group we have right now, especially with JP bringing Beast Mode to some other team. Hopefully Shower Mode is just as good.